Q: Can you detail just how you float the Tuck? How do you time the launch with the generation schedule? Where are the best put in and take out points?

A: The Tuck is an interesting river because it has two dams that create its flow, the East Fork (the smaller) and the West Fork Being the bigger of the two dams. The Tuck is floatable at all levels of generation depending on what kind of craft you have and how willing you are to drag that craft over shallow areas. Drift boats are best suited to float with both generators going or maybe even just the West Fork (big generator) but if there is no generation or the East Fork only is generating it gets pretty rough on the bottom of a boat. Small rafts, pontoons, canoes, and kayaks can float all levels of generation. The fishing is definitely best with no generation and usually declines as the amount of water in the river increases. When they are turning both generators the Tuck is a streamer fishery with better chances of big trout being caught then big numbers of trout being caught. The most popular put in for boats is at the Highway 107 bridge on River Rd. As of right now there are no public take out ramps on the Tuck. A riverside homeowner is the only takeout for a drift boat about four miles downstream, but smaller boats can be pulled from the water almost anywhere the road is close enough. At full generation the water take 3.5 to 4 hours to get from the dams to the 107 bridge. Duke Power posts these generation times but always remember that the times posted can and will change based on power needs and lake levels. So always keep an eye out or you might get left high and dry.